Supporters of former Smithville Police Chief Randy Caplinger again attended Monday night’s meeting of mayor and board of aldermen, with several people taking the opportunity to speak their minds before a due process hearing Friday at 10 a.m. Though the public may attend the hearing, there will be no open forum for public comment.
The hearing will give Caplinger and his attorneys, Sarah Cripps and Brandon Cox, an opportunity to persuade a majority of the five aldermen to return him to his position as police chief after his termination by Mayor Jimmy Poss in March.
Among the embattled former chief’s supporters were Gary Durham who told the board that he felt that the process used in firing Caplinger was faulty. "I’ve known Randy for over 30 years," Durham said. "I’ve probably talked to more than 100 people around town, and not one of them has said or heard one bad thing about him.
"Why, if this is true, wasn’t it documented and brought forth to the commissioner and chief of police?" he inquired. "I ran a business for 30 years. I was in big-time management. I’ve fired a lot of people. You don’t do it this way. You bring the person in with all the information and document it. Then you talk to him. If the talk isn’t satisfactory, it’s up to you to terminate him then." Durham continued.
"And why is this meeting on Friday morning at ten o’clock when everybody knows there are people working who can’t be here?" I know we can’t speak, but the way this is being done is totally not correct. There is no professionalism in this whatsoever," Durham opined.
Local Dr. Hugh Don Cripps mentioned the good working relationship between the former chief’s department and the local hospital. "I think it’s important for me to say how good the relationship with the hospital was with the entire Smithville Police Department. I hope there is more to this than a political witch hunt. I hope we have valid reasons for charging a man who I think the entire community respects. I hope it’s more than a Republican/Democrat thing, or who is the mayor now or who used to be the mayor, because we don’t have very many good men in our community who are willing to serve. I have more than just a passing interest in seeing our town do well. I own several buildings and homes in this town and pay a lot of taxes. I have never been about politics in the city and county or the federal elections, for that matter. I hope you guys will be more upstanding than picking a fuss over things that don’t matter in the big scope of things," Cripps concluded.
Food pantry operator Pat Zornow also praised Caplinger for his work with the organization.
"I operate the local food pantry," Zornow said. "Many churches and many people are very supportive of it. Last year we fed over 24,000 people. We fed over 8,000 families here. It’s a big operation. Every time we had an issue and we called Randy Caplinger, or one of his other police officials, they reported immediately. They took care of every issue we have had, including break-ins, accidents, and suspected thefts. We’ve had serious issues with that pantry. Each and every time I needed something he was there and it didn’t matter if it was night, day, whatever. I’ve seen him take money out of his own pocket to help people. You’re looking at a good man."
Smithville First United and Bright Hill United Methodist Church Pastor Dr. John Carpenter shared his belief that Caplinger is possessed of strong moral fiber. "I consider him a very loyal, respectful, and Christ-centered individual. I don’t know all the charges that are brought against him. I don’t know the details. But of his character I can speak, and of that I am sure," he said.
Smithville resident Gingie White told the board that she did not feel that Caplinger has not been treated fairly.
"I don’t know a lot of the details about what’s happened with Randy," she said. "It did seem an unjust cause to me. Randy is a man of good character. He has served well. I just feel like he has not been done fairly by the board. I just hope that you question yourselves as to whether you did the right thing to Randy or not. It wouldn’t matter if it was Randy or someone else. The right thing is the right thing, and I’m not sure this particular incident was handled properly with Randy. I’m disappointed in the way the board has carried this out."
Local resident Mack White asked the board to be certain that they were doing the right thing as well.
"Some of you are acquaintances and friends of mine," White said. "I respect your decision, and I’ll be your friend after your decision is made, but I will make you a promise. I have never had a political sign in my yard, but unless I can hear just cause, I will have all your opponents’ signs in my yard come election time. Right is right. You are expected to be ethical and to carry out your work with principle, with respect, and with ethics. My neighbors expect that of me. I do of them. We’re a small town. I expect that of you. Search your soul. If you have just cause I support you 100 percent. Make it public. If you don’t, you need to back up and do what’s right."
Beth Rhody spoke out in support of Caplinger as well. "Randy has been a great friend of mine for many years," Rhody said. "He is a great, wonderful guy. I hope and pray that with all the good things that have been said about Randy tonight, that when we leave here your conscience will be clear too, so that people can say good and just things about you, that you just didn’t throw somebody out on a whim, that there was justice done, right or wrong. Look into your own hearts and make sure what you’re doing is right, so people can say all the good things about you that they have said about Randy."
Brandon Cox, one of Caplinger’s attorneys, questioned why the former chief was not being afforded a hearing before a three-person board before the due-process hearing with the entire board of aldermen, why the hearing was scheduled in the morning hours when many people will be unable to attend, and why City Judge Hilton Conger had not been asked, as Caplinger’s attorneys requested, to serve as arbiter at the hearing. "On behalf of Chief Caplinger, we would request a hearing before the three-person board as is required by city code 42057 prior to conducting a hearing before the full board. We await the reasons why we can’t have that hearing," Cox said.
"This morning meeting serves only one purpose, and that is to hush the public, to keep the public away. If there’s a better reason I’d like to hear it. Each regularly scheduled city council meeting, just like this one, is held at six p.m. The reason being is for the public to be here to be heard. At 10 a.m. people have more obligations. I would ask the board that if you feel so just in your cause to terminate Chief Caplinger, why shy away from public scrutiny?" he continued.
"It has been determined that city judge Hilton Conger will not be present at this due-process hearing to serve as an arbiter to any issues that arise, evidentiary or otherwise. He has not been contacted by the city. We asked the board to include Judge Conger in this due process hearing.
"This board and the actions in proceeding in this manner on this termination have had a negative impact on the City of Smithville. We too have been approached by a vast majority of the citizens of this great city and they have expressed a concern about the lack of leadership that has been displayed by this board, by the mayor, and by all involved. The failure of this body to operate in a transparent and open manner has caused a distrust in this city. As a result, the city has lost confidence in you guys. There’s been no effort to this point, that I have seen, to regain that confidence, or to address the issues or concerns that have been raised. In any government, openness and transparency is key. If you lose that, you lose trust. If you lose trust, you lose the people. The people of this city have a right to be here and have a right to be heard. Let them be part of this," Cox concluded.
City Administrator Hunter Hendrixson replied that that the measure requiring a hearing before a three-man board was repealed last year, and terminated employees now must request a hearing with the entire board of aldermen.
Caplinger’s due-process hearing is scheduled for May 8 at 10 a.m. at city hall.
